Radarscreen 2011 online exclusive: Halogen TV

realscreen's 2011 Global Pitch Guide continues with another online exclusive as Marshall Nord (pictured), VP of programming for U.S. cable network Halogen TV, reveals what he is looking for and how best to get in touch.

realscreen’s 2011 Global Pitch Guide continues with another online exclusive as Marshall Nord (pictured), VP of programming for U.S. cable network Halogen TV, reveals what he is looking for and how best to get in touch.

What’s the preferred approach for pitching to you? Do you want brief outlines, bibles, or one-pagers?

Pitches go through me directly. Producers should email their queries to me at marshall.nord@halogentv.com and I will send them a submission form to sign. I will also send specific information useful to the producer who desires to understand our brand and make a successful presentation.

What can you tell us about your audience and your target demo? What tone of programming is connecting best with it?

Halogen intends to target the Millennial Generation, both male and female. Though demographics [18-34] are important, it is the psychographic variables – attributes relating to personality, values, attitudes, interests, or lifestyles – that are a strong consideration.

Program ideas presented to Halogen for consideration should be consistent with current programming – see www.halogentv.com – as well as conform to its ideal strategy. This strategy is to produce programs that have a connection to these three elements: Entertainment, Character-driven stories, and Pillar alignment (see below).

What are some pitching “don’ts” that you can warn us of – what shouldn’t people do when trying to pitch to you?

Please do not contact Halogen’s general manager, Becky Henderson, directly. Becky loves to connect with producers; however, she will forward all ideas to programming. Becky and I launched the network together and we are in sync with the brand and programming desires. If your idea is Halogen, then she will hear of it.

Please do not pitch talent, businesses, or organizations that you do not already have a relationship with regarding the project idea.

What’s the pricing range per hour for commissions, from high to low-end? What volume of series do you tend to work with?

Halogen will produce within the US$10,000-$75,000 per episode budget range. The process is pitch to pilot to series – four-episode increments with option, generally. We will be launching six new series in the fall of 2011 and four in early 2012. We currently have two series in development and are looking for more pilots to produce.

Are there any elements that you believe need to be at the core of programming for Halogen? What makes a concept a good fit?

Our tag line is “Be the Change.”

The aforementioned pillars of our programming are Purpose, Justice (social), and Connection. Adding entertainment and admirable central characters to those makes a project suitable for Halogen.

Some things to consider are: keep it simple, use real people, gain access to an interesting world, and reveal a journey experience. Redemption and/or transformational plot lines are a plus. Halogen does suggest format tweaks and oversee the creative development, casting, production, etc. However, it is easier for us to green-light programs where the development has already been completed. We are not just looking for good ‘ideas,’ but for pitch reels showing an ‘idea’ ready for pilot or series execution.

Conversely, what aren’t you looking for?

Please do not submit scripted, educational, religious, issue/topic-centered or similarly oriented material. Also, we do not produce ‘one-off’ projects.

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About The Author

Daniele Alcinii is a news editor at realscreen, the leading international publisher of non-fiction film and television industry news and content. He joined the RS team in 2015 with experience in journalism following a stint out west with Sun Media in Edmonton's Capital Region, and with communications work in Melbourne, Australia and Toronto. You can follow him on Twitter at @danielealcinii.